Rise and Report
Council appointed Nathan Middleton to the Design Advisory Panel for a two-year term.
Section 7a
Council appointed a mural commissioned by the BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner for the interior of the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre.
Section 7b
Presentations
Dale Lindsay (Chief Administrative Officer) and Laura Mercer (Director, Finance) introduced the 2024-2028 Draft Financial Plan.
Carolyn Holmes, Executive Director, Nanaimo Art Gallery, and Louisa Plan, Manager, Nordicity, provided an update on the new Nanaimo Art Gallery.
Council directed staff to work with the Nanaimo Art Gallery to identify two to three sites for a potential new art gallery.
Section 8b
Consent Items
Recommendations from the November 27, 2023 Governance and Priorities Committee Meeting:
- Council approved $200,000 in 2023 funding for Extension Road traffic calming.
- Council directed Staff to prepare a report for a future GPC on incentive programs to implement City Plan.
Section 10a
Recommendations from the December 1, 2023 Special Finance and Audit Committee Meeting:
- Council increased the base budget for Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation from $412,692 to $515,850 for the 2024 - 2028 Financial Plan.
- Council approved a 5-year annual operating grant to the Nanaimo Area Land Trust (NALT) for the term covering January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2028 based on $40,000 for 2024 and adding a 2%, per year, increase for 2025 – 2028.
- Council provide the CatNap Society with a 5-year annual operating grant for the term covering January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2028 as follows:
- $36,000 for 2024; and
- $25,000 for 2025 – 2028.
- Council increased the Snow and Ice Control Program (SNIC) budget to $1.2 million in 2024 for the 2024-2028 Financial Plan.
- Council added $50,000 in 2024 of the 2024 - 2028 Financial Plan funded from the Strategic Infrastructure Reserve to recognize Nanaimo's 150.
- Council increased the annual allocation for the Downtown Event Grants program from $150,000/year to $250,000/year for the 2024 - 2028 Financial Plan.
- Council added the following positions and related costs to 2024 of the 2024 – 2028 Financial Plan: Assistant Manager, Procurement; Executive Assistant, Police Services; Client Support Technician; Community Development Clerk (conversion of six-month temporary position); Mechanic, Emergency Vehicle Technician; Mechanic, Fleet Generator Technician; Natural Area Technician (2); Steno Bylaw (part-time); Fire Clerk; and Transit Planning Specialist.
- Also approved was an increase to the annual operating budget for the transit shelter program.
- Fleet purchases will be funded from the General Capital Reserve.
- Council increased the budget for the Extension Road Traffic Calming project by $120,000 in 2024 funded from the Strategic Infrastructure Reserve.
- Council added $518,000 in 2024 for a pickleball courts project funded by General Revenue.
Section 10b
Reports
Council directed staff to move forward with a second Alternative Approval Process (AAP) in relation to “Nanaimo Operations Centre Phase One Borrowing Bylaw 2023 No. 7362”.
- The total number of electors to which the approval process applies is 78,892;
- The deadline for receiving elector responses for the AAP is 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 (the AAP begins on January 18, 2024);
- The Elector Response Form attached to the Staff report was approved.
Section 12a
Council approved the 2024 Council and Committee Key Date Calendars as well as the 2024 Acting Mayor Schedule.
Section 12b,c
The following bylaws passed first, second and third reading:
- “Waterworks Rate and Regulation Amendment Bylaw 2023, No. 7004.21” (a bylaw to set the water rates for 2024)
- “Sewer Regulation and Charge Amendment Bylaw 2023, No. 2496.37” (a bylaw to set the 2024 rates for sanitary sewer)
- “Municipal Solid Waste Collection Amendment Bylaw 2023, No. 7128.15” (a bylaw to set the solid waste collection rates for 2024)
- “User Fee Subsidies Amendment Bylaw 2023, No. 7095.05” (a bylaw to set the 2024 thresholds for User Fee Subsidies)
- “South West Bulk Water Rate Amendment Bylaw 2023, No. 7099.12” (a bylaw to set the 2024 bulk water rate for South West Extension)
Section 12d, e, f, g, h
Council deferred consideration of “Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2022 No. 4500.204” and “Land Use Contract Discharge Bylaw 2022 No. 7355” until after the Province confirms their facilitated process has completed.
Sections 13a,b
“Facility Development Reserve Fund Amendment Bylaw 2023 No. 7217.01” (housekeeping amendment) was adopted.
Section 13c
“Building Amendment Bylaw 2023 No. 7224.06” (to implement a Certified Professional Program; alignment of Professional Practice Guidelines for Retaining Walls; and minor housekeeping items) was adopted.
Section 13d
“Highway Closure and Dedication Removal Bylaw 2023 No. 7367” (to provide for highway closure and dedication removal of a portion of Melideo Road and portion of Old Victoria Road adjacent to 1044 and 1048 Old Victoria Road) was adopted.
Section 13e
Other Business
Council directed staff to provide a report and recommendations outlining policy options to improve accessibility and increase the ability of electors to engage in the democratic process when the Alternative Approval Process is used for elector approval.
December 4, 2023 Regular Council meeting – agenda, documents and video